Oleanna Theatrical Terms

A character who acts as a force/opponent working against the protagonist

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Character contrast

Characters who work as a foil for others, in order to point out the characteristics of that character

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Chekhov's Gun

A seemingly unimportant element introduced early on in the play which transpires to be important later on

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Climax

The highest point of tension in the play

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Denouncement

The final resolution of conflict in the play

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Downstage

Area of stage that is closer to the audience

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Dramatic Irony

When the audience understand something more than the character

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Duologue

A two handed play

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Exposition

The back story (preceding series of events that make up the plot)

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Foreshadowing

Hinting at what will later happen in the play

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In media res

Beginning whilst things are in the process of going on

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Irony

A meaning underlying behind the text

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Kinesics

Non verbal communication of actors (sometimes stage directions)

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Monologue

A long speech made by one character

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Objective

The goal of the character

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Pathos

An appeal which may provoke an emotional response to the audience

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Plot

The series of events which is carried out during the course of the play (not just the full story, some of which could've not happened on stage)

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Point of attack

The time in the full story in which the play itself begins

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Protagonist

The main character of the play (in Greek tragedy it is the first character to speak)

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Proxemics

The bodily positioning of characters on stage (sometimes communicated through stage directions)

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Realism

A nineteenth-century movement in response to Romanticism which is more down to earth, exploring the psychological motivations of characters instead of attitudes conveyed being on a more superficial level

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Rising action

The section of the plot consisting of complications which create conflict within the play

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Stage directions

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Symbolism

An object, action or idea that carries with it an idea of something other than itself